Just when you’re wondering what’s going on, you receive a community letter ‘splaining it all or making everything seem positively positive.
The letter is from Wingspan and it went out through the Internets yesterday. The community calls coming into Weekly World Central have to do with the firing of popular staff members, and the departure of other staff who decided it was probably best to leave rather than wait to get fired.
Concern about what was taking place was growing toward the end of last week, when it was communicated to us that participants in the Eon youth program were thinking of holding a protest. We sent an email to the organization’s new executive director, Carol Grimsby, to find out what’s going on. We’ll keep you posted.
However, while we’re waiting, here’s the letter:
May 6, 2013
Dear Mari,
Wingspan exists to support and serve the Southern Arizona LGBT community and our allies. Our focus is our commitment to excellence in the execution and the continuing improvement of all programs, services, education and advocacy. Our mission is to promote the freedom, equality, safety and well-being of LGBT people.
Over the past 25 years Wingspan has faced challenges and changes but we are here, stronger than ever, thanks to you and valued staff. We are sorry to say goodbye to Casey Chimneystar Condit. She is a wonderful role-model for the EON youth and embodies the positive spirit of Wingspan. Casey has given selflessly of her time, energy and passion for our beloved community center. Wingspan celebrates Casey’s contribution and wishes her well for the future. Casey and her accomplishments are woven into the rich history of Wingspan – they will never be lost or forgotten.
The future of Wingspan is continuing our work building, reinforcing and investing in a strong LGBT community center and serving all LGBT community members. Wingspan serves the LGBT community with many relevant programs with our; EON Youth, Homeless Youth, Rainbow Families, Anti-Violence Program, 24-hour bilingual crisis hotline, Puetas Abiertas, Senior Pride, SAGA, Community Forums, and Advocacy and Public Policy.
25 Years ago, Wingspan gave hope to vulnerable youth struggling with questions of identity and developed a safe place for them to meet. Wingspan’s Anti-Violence Program was initiated in 1993 in response to a lack of resources for LGBT victims of domestic violence, bullying and hate crimes. 15 Years ago, the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) began through Wingspan, giving resources and support to the transgender community. Wingspan has consistently provided programs and services to the LGBT community and our allies.
Today we return to the meaning, vision and spirit of our name, Wingspan, our wings span over all of Southern Arizona’s LGBT and allied communities. Moving forward we will continue to engage all sectors of the community in meaningful discussions, activities, and programs as we set out on our new path for the next 25 years and beyond.
We embrace a reenergized path with the leadership of our new Executive Director, renewed engagement of volunteers and the entire community. Wingspan, as Southern Arizona’s LGBT community center, will continue to focus on our communities most vulnerable while we broaden our span to include programs for the entire community.
Wingspan is your LGBT community center today, tomorrow, the next 25 years and beyond.
This article appears in May 2-8, 2013.
I’m confused about how firing staff demonstrates how an organization values them. Maybe Carol or Wingspan’s board would like to explain this to the community?
Serving the vulnerable? What about the vulnerability of the staff?
The letter also fails to mention that Casey Chimneystar Condit attempted to resign, but was fired and escorted off the premises. Then the locks were changed under the supervision of a board member. Then 2 more staff members – the entire EON staff – were fired a week later and Wingspan called the Tucson Police Department to escort them off the premises. Charges and a lawsuit are forthcoming.
What does Kent Burbank think of all this?
This makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever… seems that lots of parts of our community also have a voice, and say, in how things are going at Wingspan. This sounds more like a corporate whitewash… what’s up???
What the unholy hell is this? Casey was fired? Eon staff were fired? What the fuck is going on? I’m an aged out youth who has been involved with eon for 8 years now and this is extremely distressing. I can’t believe this.
Ugly. The public needs some answers.
Dang! That writing there sounds positively corporate-speak.
Despite honorable work in the community, historically speaking, Wingspan has had more than it’s share of human resources fumbles. I feel badly for the folks who lost their jobs, and I’m concerned about what the next chapter in Wingspan’s story is going to look like. I think we all have our fingers crossed…
When people must leave a job, of course it’s sad. But it’s also not possible for a company or agency to publicly state details. People’s privacy must be respected. And things are not always as they appear, as above. Wingspan has a diverse board. Times have been tough the past few years. Maybe they need trust and time to find the best direction, and trust that they have made the best decisions. Their programs continue. Wingspan has been with us for 25 years. It needs your support.
I guess all that can be said is the past is the past and the future is to come. Let’s hope that the present is as tranquil as can be.
Being in the driver’s seat of a non-profit is never as glamorous as it appears. When things are going great, a good leader gives credit to staff and volunteers, when it’s not going so well, everyone blames the leader and s/he accepts the responsibility. That’s just the way it is.
Wingspan has been leaderless for a number of years. During that time, staff have done a good job of keeping the lights on, and have served the most vulnerable of our community commendably. That’s all that could be done on the shoestring budget that this dark economic time allowed. However, the clouds of recession are lifting, a new Executive Director was hired, and a new dawn has broken for Wingspan and with it, a renewed vision of a thriving LGBT community center is once more possible.
Anybody who thought that Wingspan’s business model was working well and would always stay the same just wasn’t being realistic. A culture change had to occur, because without strong direction and accountability, Wingspan cannot thrive or even survive.
We will all miss staff members who are now gone. The letter referenced above was honest in it’s appreciation for their dedication and service, but that’s not always enough. It’s a very human quality is to resist change, yet change is a constant. Embracing change and working to create a better tomorrow is a choice each individual must make.
Still seems confusing, Peter. When the economy does well, you fire the staff that held together the organization during the tough times?
Regardless, though, I think there’s an argument for decency even if this type of change is necessary. Like, for example, giving staff notice of the organizational changes and that there will no longer be a place for them in the organization. Instead of, as referenced by “scared,” firing them with no notice and treating them terribly in the process.
As a member of the LGBT and larger Tucson community, I know my image of Wingspan is negatively tainted by this. Hopefully the new “business model” and its results are so freaking amazing that it can overcome the negative feelings I and others have.
I share your values. I guess I’ve seen enough organizational angst in my time that I know that, as a community member who isn’t inside the organization, and neither a staff member nor a borad member, there’s little I can know about how much notice was given, or how people were actually treated. Every organization has a culture, and not everybody gets on board when it must change. Everyone sees these events through there own lenses, so unless we’re on the inside we can’t know the whole truth. I’ve learned to be comfortable in the “not knowing”.
I do know many of the good people who have worked at Wingspan over the years and still work there. I also know many of the Members of the Board who have worked hard to keep the organization afloat over the years as well (many at there own expense). I too have served as a volunteer and as so have had the opportunity to interact with staff and board members.
All I can do as a proud member of Tucson’s LGBT community, who has a sense of the complex nature of the dynamics at work here, is to provide support to those who need it, remain committed to Wingspan’s cause, and keep faith that good people are all working to try to do the best for our community, and to try not to make judgement as I lack a full understanding of what has happened.
Being knee jerk is easy. Practicing patience is hard.
It’s true that we can’t be privy to all human resources decisions, but it’s worth pointing out to Wingspan that, hey, this is our beloved organization and our beloved staff members; we, the community, are watching you closely. If the organization is undergoing a change of focus, mission, or model, Wingspan needs to say that publicly.
I hear what you are saying, Peter, but non-profits have their own peculiar flavor of disfunction. We are wary, which I believe to be the appropriate response.
As being someone who witnessed the horrible occurrences at Wingspan these last few weeks. It is terribly troubling that people have gotten behind this Board and Executive Director with no forethought to the actions they have chosen. What would have been so freaking amazing is if they would have given Casey the support to foster this new direction they keep speaking of, encouraged her by removing things from her duties so she could breathe. Having someone remain apart of something when it wasn’t doing so great then get rid of them when things are looking up is just vile…period! The implication of changing locks, walking them off the premises doesn’t say “you are valued and appreciated’ it says “you are untrustworthy and you are dismissed”. No one is speaking to the antics of Wingspan’s overzealous board member Bob Bowers or the lack communication and regard for the staff by Carol Grimsby (executive director). This has rocked the staff at Wingspan to their cores and now we are supposed to trust the new Wingspan will be for all of us! Say what you want about patience, I think the remaining staff has exercised amazing patience by not staging a walk out or mass call in. They continue to show up for their community EVERY DAY! What is the community doing from them??!!
Together we are a powerful force as one.We will stand up and be heard when the time is right.
This is a sad day for all of us that support Wingspan. Whether or not you identify as LGBTQ, Wingspan is a place for everyone and that is how it has sustained for 25 years. This new direction needs to include all of So. AZ, not just the privileged and affluent.
I am sure none of us should be surprised, the future belongs to those who remember, not those who forget. Stonewall doesn’t signify the same thing to the board. The board has always seemed to be run by those who want to justify their “log cabin republican’” mentality rather than the sacrifice, decency , and hard work of the people helping those in most need. The country club queens want to to ride in the pride parade without the peasants. This new “executive Director” SEEMS to have shown herself to be in the :Dick Cheneys’ Daughter business mode. This reminds me of the old saw that when a dictator farts, all below must inhale deeply.
Some of the staff have resigned because they don’t feel safe in that environment anymore. The locks were changed and police were called to escort some of the staff away. That’s not a ‘non-profit organization problems’ issue and it’s not a ‘can’t discuss it with the public’ issue either; Wingspan has been hijacked. Putting Casey in a kind light in this letter doesn’t soften the incredible injustice done here. Wingspan and Eon are all a lot of us have had for support. The only place to make ties and find shoulders to lean on. I hope this new ED understands that it’s the entire community she’s slapping in the face with this move and that Phoenix already has us in a bad mood. I know too many people that hold Eon/Wingspan far too precious to not take action on this.
There are many reasons why staff may be fired and the Board of Wingspan can’t comment as it is related to personnel. There were probably excellent reasons for the firings, but they are private matters. With lawsuits already being threatened, one can see why the Board can’t address all the nattering nabobs of negativism.
Nattering nabobs of negativism! Quoting from Spiro Agnew, the only vice president who had to resign on Bribery charges, That puts Sally in the same era as: doddering dinosaur of disregard. Bet you don’t even know what a nabob is. A nabob is much more likely to be on the Board. Assuming there are “probably excellent’ reasons for a firing before the facts is just as dangerous as assuming the board or all its members are competent . Proof being former lost lawsuits. It is not the job of the board to engender lawsuits. Especially when they just have to act decently thru due process. Good management starts at the top. The board seems to be like the school boards in Texas. Anointed, not appointed. Just what is the criteria for being on this Board?
All right this is an old thread…but what has happened since Casey and others were fired? The answer is, EVERY SINGLE STAFFER at Wingspan as of the date she was fired has left, willingly or unwillingly, and quite a few of the REPLACEMENTS have gone as well, mostly not voluntarily.
In fact it seems that most of the VOLUNTEERS have left too.
And is anyone asking Wingspan to explain this?? To justify 110% turnover in staff in less than one year?? Can that possibly NOT affect Wingspan’s ability to deliver services and support?